Angry over the party not considering him for the state president’s post, former chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa on Friday trained his guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party high command including Party National President Nitin Gadkari at a time when all the party top leaders were attending the national council meeting in Haryana.
Addressing an emergency press conference in Bangalore, Mr. Yeddyurappa embarrassed the party high command by asking Mr. Gadkari to “appreciate the Congress leadership which has never let down their leaders on false allegations unlike the BJP which has not kept promises”.
Sending a letter in this regard to Mr. Gadkari, he also remarked: “From the era of Jawaharlal Nehru to Sonia Gandhi, the Congress never lets down its leaders. Once they make a promise, they do not change their stance. This is the greatness of Congress leaders. But in our party, you (Gadkari) promised so many things to me. You did not keep them for no reason.”
Mr. Yeddyurappa said such a situation of the party going back on its promise was being witnessed not only in Karnataka, but in several other states and asked Mr. Gadkari to conduct introspection in this regard.
He indirectly ridiculed Mr. Gadkari for the gap between what he says and how he conducts himself. “You say that even an ordinary worker can go on to occupy top posts in the BJP if he has eligibility. I have strived to build the party for the last 40 years and helped it to come to power for the first time in the state. Despite this, you paid heed to leaders like national general secretary Ananth Kumar and did not implement the promise made to me, leading to confusion in the state,” he said.
“On the one hand you speak of high ideology. But how are you conducting yourself?,” he remarked. He also accused him of being responsible for bringing about a new political system of appointing two deputy chief ministers in the state only to encourage leaders opposed to him.
Mr. Yeddyurappa claimed that Mr. Gadkari had promised him of appointing as state president within 24 hours about six months ago.
Launching a tirade against Mr. Ananth Kumar, the former chief minister blamed him for all the problems of the party. “He has conspired against me to become state president through backdoor. He has brought pressure on the party national president as well as veteran leader L. K. Advani,” he said.
He suggested to Mr. Gadkari to appoint Mr. Kumar as the state president. “This would solve all the problems of the party as he had tried thrice to unseat me as Chief minister,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
Will not seek party ticket
B. S. Yeddyurappa on Friday hinted that he was considering quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party by remarking that: “Myself and my followers will not stand in queue before Party state president seeking B-Forms from the BJP to contest the forthcoming assembly election.
Addressing a press conference here, he said: “Gone is the phase when I will become a BJP president or BJP chief minister. I will not accept the state president’s post even it is offered to me now.”
At the same time, he reiterated that he would make the crucial decision on his political future in December after completing the proposed state tour commencing from October 5. He also appealed to his well wishers to send their views in writing on what he should do in the present political situation. “I will abide by whatever they say,” he said.
